The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-11

ocilpaNe uiaSrlnl vi the Mann patent
garbage destructor.
The paper was listened 10 with marked
attention, and after the applause which
greeted its conclusion had subsidized DIR.
Roland ii. Smith, of Pittsburg, described
and commented ON the Rider furnace
which was put into operation in his city
last Monday week AGO.
DR.. Laberge, OF Montreal. the author OF
this paper, and DR.. Burroughs, of Lind
say, Ontario, it is here proper to say, gave
Mr. j. Nj. Heating, Of the APPEAL, the
credit of originating this method of final
disposition of excreta and garbage.
Mr. keating's paper on this
subject, read at Indianapolis and his more
lengthy and conclusive paper read at the
st. Louis meeting OF The Public Health
Association, guided these eminentsanitari-
ans, and those Of Wheeling and Pittsburg,
and also OF Wisconsin, who are now sue
cessiully solving the problem OF "The Ulti-
mate OF Sanitation by Fire"
Dr. j. +. Kennedy, OF Des Moines, Ia,
also described a like furnace which was in
experimental use under the board OF
health there. DIR. VIM Oldright of Can
ada, gave very instructive description Of
the manner in which garbage was crsmated
at Glasgow, Scotland. lIealso commented
iavorably on the Bee Hive destructor,
which had proven OF excellent use for
such purposes. The discussion through
out was very interesting and was dccid-
edly favorable to the recommendations
contained in the paper for the destruction
of garbage by cremation. Dr. Walter
Wiman, of the United States marine hos
pital service, opened the discussion of the
first of the three questions presented by
the committee from the States boards of
health, which was as follows:
What are the privileges and expert
ences OF State officers as to the invcstiga-
ton of epidemics at points in other States
and provences threatening TO them?"
"What diseases should be subject TO in
terstate notification, and should there be
uniformity in mcthod?"
The following abstracts give the sub
stance Of the valuable paper
"lle said that the recent experiences at
the New York quarantine had made
prominent three facts, viz: It's state OF
nOn-preparation, he apparent division of
responsibility therefor and the great in
terest and dependence OF the whole coun-
try upon the New York quarantine.
division of responsibility or authority
in the presence OF sudden danger is dis
astrous. Should cholera be communi-
Gated from Swinburne island 10 the adj
| jaccnt shores, the health officers who
would be concerned in its suppression,
viz. town, county, city, state, and even
national authoritics-might, by their very
number, cause confusion of action, and
| prevent rs prompt suppression rs might
be had il there were but one powerful au-
| thority TO whom all the rest might look
for direction at the start.
"a national supervision OF quarantine
would be more equitable even toward the
State OF New York itself, for il is hardly
| fair that this State should alone stand the
expense and responsibility Of preventing
| immigratcd disease. Why should New
York be held responsible for infected bag
lyge that is opened in Chicago2 Strictly
| speaking. she need only care for baggage
that may be opened within her own Dor
dcrs.
"Any change, however, in the quaran.
tine administration of New York could
only he brought about by the New York
State authorities themselves.
"Sanitarians are almost unanimous in
| the opinion that the national government
should manage maritime quarantines. The
recent report Of the committee OF the
college Of physicians Of Philadelphia, after
rcciting the inadequacy Of the quarantlncs
ut New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia,
recommends putting quarantine IN the
hands OF the national government This
is no new idea, for ~ early rs 1899, and
subsequently in 1875 1879, 1852 and 1883
Congress passed laws directing national as
sistance, and permitting, in some cases
national control Of quarantine.
$50 strong were the appeals for national
supervision that in 1879 a national board
Of health was established, which, however
was allowed 10 expire 10y the limiting
clause in the act, after four years exist
ence. II should Dc rcmembercd, however
that the national board OF health, which
was an unsuccessful experiment, was en-
gagged in other work than quarantine de
tense. lts members proposed 10 make II Q
general health authority, absorbing othcl
regular and old branches Of service, and a.
by attempting too wide scope, or iol
whatever other cause, Il failed, the infer
cncp is not 90 be made that national su
pcryision Of quarantine Is n failure.
whether the United States should cs
tablish bureau Of public health Is Z
question that cannot be answered at th'
present time. Whether any work 10 u,
done by such bureau excepting quaran
tine may not rs well he done 10y the ~
spectiye states Is n question not yet settled
National control Of the health interests o
the several States is question IN the sans
in defined state Of solution ~ the question
whether the government should own an,
operate the telegraph and railroad lines o
| the country
"But ON the one question Of maritime
quarantine there is NO longer doubt ~ &
the ACCESSIBILITY OF national control, save IL
rare instances.
Absolute national control Of all quar-
antines without consent of the State j. sub
ioct 10 constitutional objection, but ma
tional aid aud control Oi previously veal
and imperfect guarantees Is not only
dcsideratum, but is an accomplished fact
THE national quamntncs arr admins
tered by the marine hospital service q
points where local means are inadequate
or where several States may bc guarded b
n single quarantine. Thus qunrantlncs ~
regularly operated at Cape Charles, III
Delaware brcakwaicr, sapclo sound am
Ship island.
ION account of the present alarm abou
cholera. there has been intimaicd proicf
for establishing bureau II public health
~ ha,cycrplan ispropUscd the cxccutiv
character Of quarantine work should ID
borne in mind. aud lis administrator
should be divorced from all matters whc
I have no direct connection with IT,
III Congress chooses 10 establish hug
. laboratories and examine the food an
| drink for the whole nation, that Is on
I thing; but to establish national 1uamr
tine service, is another thing, and an
movement Is faulty that looks 10 con
binalion Of these two distinct classes ,
labor.